So, i have decided that I want to replace my 1998 Land Rover Discovery with a new (to me) toy...I want something fun to drive and that I can work on myself. I have enough mechanical abilities that I was able to keep the Land Rover running for the last two years.

I really like the older style BMWs, but I have always wanted a Porsche.

Speaking as someone who's owned neither, my preference would be with the 325. Always loved that vintage of BMW and I'd be concerned about ongoing maintenance of the 944...Plus, I'd wait it out and get the best 911 I could afford when the times comes.

YMMV

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Former motorcyclist...avid bicyclist

Mrs Maritimer on packing lunches: "Don't forget the pepper grinder. Just because we are eating cottage cheese at work, doesn't mean we need to be heathens about it."

I'd choose the BMW because it doesn't have a damn Harley sticker on it.

Actually, I have owned several BMW cars and I would say that you will get a fun drive and the engines are usually very reliable. Easy to source parts on those older 3-series and the really hold us.

I have heard, though admit I do not know, that the 944's are finicky and troublesome. I have nothing but anectdotal evidence for this though so don't take my input as anything more than rumor and inuendo.

The E-30 BMW is a great car that can easily accumulate over 350,000 miles. Lots of support and reasonable parts prices along with being easy to work on has turned the E-30 into a very popular choice for people wanting a street/track car. I've owned around five E-30's and they were all fun cars.

Porsche 944's make great track cars but parts prices are much higher. Friends of mine have owned them and they mention things like motor mounts and a few other expensive bits. I never warmed up to the 944 myself (after a 911 it seemed like a step down) but they certainly have a strong fan base. I'm not sure I'd pay the premium over the BMW for the 944.

In the end drive both cars and buy the one that feels better to you - either one is a good car.

I've driven many examples of both, and have owned (and raced) two 944's. The 944 does make a better track car, because it has much better (and more predictable) handling. In fact, it was one of the best handling cars of its time. A high polar moment of inertia (engine in front, transaxle in rear), a better suspension design than... just about everything else in the 80's and 90's... 8 degrees of caster in the front, all of these things make the 944 a car that is safe to drive fast, and fun to drive seriously.

If either car has been driven and maintained consistently, then you can expect that all of the upgrades have been done. Original 944's had oil cooler issues, water pump issues, etc., and have all had redesigned and superceded parts from Porsche. Plus, there is an active aftermarket for them. Not as big as for the BMW, but still plenty.

And, cruising around even close to legal speeds, they consistently deliver 30mpg.

It's not that I don't like the E30. I wouldn't mind having one of those either. I just like the 944 more.

I personally haven't owned an E30 or a 944 but I've worked on a few and my mother has a 1991 E30 325i.s. and my sister had a 944 Turbo for a short time (fixing it was getting too expensive for her).

The E30 will be more reliable IF it has been well maintained. The 944 will require more money in regular maintenance than the BMW, and if it doesn't come with a fully documented service history pass. Having driven a couple E30s and 944s only the 944 Turbo feels significantly faster.

Stop on over to E30tech.com there's a lot of information on that site. For $5,000-$7,000 you could almost find an early E36 M3 for that price, which is a lot more fun than either an E30 or 944....

I've driven many examples of both, and have owned (and raced) two 944's. The 944 does make a better track car, because it has much better (and more predictable) handling. In fact, it was one of the best handling cars of its time.

Blah blah blah.
I race an E30. I've passed plenty of 944's, and I'm only a mid-pack driver. Stock, yes, the 944 will handle better. It's not really any more powerful than a M20 equipped E30 though. Now add lowering springs, sway bars that aren't made of piano wire and some stiffer shocks to the E30 and you'll school the 944 pretty easily, all the while enjoying much cheaper parts prices and simpler and less invasive maintenance. It's very, very rare one of our cars breaks on the track, but I've seen numerous 944's towed back to the pits. The handling on the E30 with it's 'unsophisticated' suspension will surprise you; it's extremely easy to drive at the limit. My experience driving a 944S left me very underwhelmed, and that was before I had ever driven a BMW. I guess I'm not wowed by the Stuttgart crest like some people.

I do have several friends who own/have owned 944's and they have enjoyed them, but for me they simply weren't worth the added expense and headache over the BMW.